Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Hillary Clinton for the post of Secretary of State, is only a journalistic guess, and not an information leak.
The often repeated scoop of the choice of Hillary Clinton as the Secretary of State, by the President-elect is not at all a scoop. I am sure it is the result of a guessing game. It was two days before that so called scoop I told my wife, that the President elect may select Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State. It is the most easiest of guesses. Of course I had no one else to say that to, therefore it was not a scoop and no body would have said that the information had leaked from the President-elect’s transition team.
Hence it was possible that it had popped into the mind of a journalist and she said that she had got it from a reliable source. No body could then check on it ,and the journalist concerned will get credit for it.
There is also the possibility that it had been done purposely to commit the President-elect, to give him no alternative, but to give Hillary Clinton the coveted Office.
The MSNBC TV journalists, kept repeating over and over again, that it would not be correct not to offer the post to Hillary Clinton after the leak of the information, as she had already been left out from the list of persons considered for the office of the Vice Pres
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Obama Phenomenon & a lesson to Sri Lanka
In 1950s black children could not walk into a sweet shop to buy candies. They were black and therefore chased out. The blacks were not allowed to enter restaurants. They were refused to be served if they were in. The black children were admitted only to schools meant for them, and was refused admission to any other school. They were not accepted for registration of their names in electoral registers. Many a blacks were lynched or hanged and burnt alive by the Ku Klux Klan, and other “hate groups”. The blacks had to be satisfied with lowest paid jobs, working under unimaginable inhuman conditions.
On 1 December 1955, Rosa Parks, a seamstress from Alabama , got into the Montgomery City Bus No. 2857, and sat on a seat just behind the ten reserved for the whites . In order to provide a seat for a white passenger who boarded the bus, after the ten seats reserved for the whites were filled, Rosa Parks along with others in the next raw of seats were asked to give up their seats and keep standing. No blacks could sit on the same raw of seats where a white was seated.
Though the other black passengers obeyed the order, Rosa Parks refused and the driver James Blake had her arrested under Alabama’s Segregation Law. She was charged and found guilty. She was fined $ 10 and costs. She appealed against the court order .This incident followed the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr. The boycott ended in victory when the Alabama’s Segregation Laws were declared unconstitutional.
In the shadows of that past racial segregation, the dark mist of which has not still disappeared, a black man with his wife , and two beautiful children walking through the front door of the White House, on the 20 of January,2009 as its occupant for the next four years, would have been furthest from any American’s imaginations.
Even if one argues that Barrack Obama is not a black man of the slave stock, his father being a Kenyan and mother a white American, in America, or in the West, a person with a dark skin from the lightest shade to coal black, is a black- a coloured person. Since slavery was outlawed, blacks in America lived in fear and uncertainty, like the dalits in India or even worse.
That was the lot of the black minority, under a white majority in America long time ago, quite a distant away from Sri Lanka, where the Communal distinction, was not a barrier to mix equally with the majority, and do every thing as much as the majority without any barrier, fear, or uncertainty.
In this background the election of Barrack Obama as the President of America is a remarkable lesson of racial integration. How did all that happen ? There are already different arguments, comparisons, and suggestions for possible ways out for nations with ethnic problems.
In America this racial integration had been possible through non aggression, and a peaceful, patient, intelligent approach. Education has played a significant role for this racial coherence, which had created not hatred, but an understanding. American racial minority followed a non violent political philosophy professed by Martin Luther King, who had been influenced by the Gandhian non-violence movement for Independence in India. There was intense heart searching to turn a very intolerant racial discrimination, to an acceptance level of political integration, as against a social integration.
In Sri Lanka Communal difference has gone beyond a search for social integration, to an aggressive search for a political integration to dominate the majority. The Muslim Community, as against the Tamil Community is going even beyond the political integration to enforcement of their religious faith to subjugate the majority into accepting their own religious culture. It is a religious fundamentalism that jumps basic social norms of communal cohabitation.
The extreme form of fundamentalism results in intolerant “talibanism”, which one should try to avoid even in its mildest form, as it was seen in a manifestation against application of rules of an institution that does not accept out word show of religious difference.
If the communities in Sri Lanka accept each other without seeking dominance over the majority community, they could foresee a day, like the racial integration of America, which promoted a black American to the highest office of the land. In Sri Lanka the ethnic difference has stepped over its racial bounds to hatred towards the majority Sinhala.
This is despite a Sinhala President who accepts all communities without discrimination. He has shown an unbelievable calmness in the face of verbal expression of enmity of all his adversaries. He does not seek to take revenge. He is manifestly aware of his mission and, does not let personal attacks deviate him, from his search for the path to reach the goal he had set.
If the Communities, leaving aside the ambitious egoistic verbal tirades of the political parties like the UNP, JVP, SLMC and the TNA, unite without hatred to really build a united nation, the day will not be far when we will have in Sri Lanka a Tamil or a Muslim President.
The greatest barrier for a meaningful unity of Communities at the moment, is the far too many Political Parties identifying themselves with different Communities. This separateness of identity distances the communities, rather than bring them together, perpetrating hatred, towards the majority. A political party identifying itself as belonging to a particular Community, shows its opposition to the other Community. This opposition is the root of hatred, which is worst than racism.
Therefore, we in Sri Lanka should adopt this non aggressive political integration by seeking political membership in the main political parties- the UNP or the SLFP which have no communal bias. That would be a first step to political integration of all communities. Thereafter, it is within the political parties that further communal integration for political leadership should be advanced.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Congratilations to the 44 th President of USA- Barrack Obama
It is very encouraging the fantastic change that you President elect Mr.Barrack Obama had been able to make, even before your overwhelming victory on the 4th November. You have been able to heal past wounds and bring the whole nation together. In your acceptance speech you made it clear that there is no black America or a white America , blue States or red States, but there is only the United State of America. That call had been heard and well received. To-day even before the Presidential Election was over you made history making the American dream come true.
As I write this you have 200 electoral votes, to 85 for Senator McCain, and going by numbers there is no doubt which way the votes are going and by the end of the day you will be the 44th President of USA.
In anticipation I Congratulate you President Barrack Obama, I wish you, and your wonderful family, all that is best and may you have the strength to see through all Changes you have in mind to make America a country of hope for all Americans without distinction, and hope for the developing nations of the world.
We pray, and wish you strength to find American economy back on its feet soon….
Asides, from that I urge you to please help developing Countries to progress by supporting them, and helping them rid themselves of barriers that have hampered their progress.
I being of Sri Lankan origin I cannot help but speak to you of the terrorism in Sri Lanka..
The Bush Administration did not understand the Sri Lanka’s reason to opt for a military solution to eliminate terrorism. The Government of Sri Lanka is not fighting a war against the Tamils, as those who take side with the terrorists may try to make you believe.
A group of Tamil youths took up arms way back in 1980s against the Government, claiming a part of the country to set up an Independent State for Tamils. For nearly three decades they terrorised the north and east of Sri Lanka, killing all those who opposed them including many Tamil intellectual, politicians, and innocent men and women mostly by blasting “suicide human bombs”.
The Government’s call for them to negotiate a peace settlement was rejected, over and over again demanding nothing less than the set up of a separate Tamil State. Having failed to negotiate, the Government was forced to resort to a military solution. The Government forces are carrying out successful military action against the terrorists, and is in the process of eliminating terrorism from Sri Lanka for good.
The forces that want to set up a separate Tamil State, including large numbers of Tamils who have settled down in foreign countries, such as USA, Canada, Australia, France etc, called the Tamil diaspora, help the terrorists, by providing them with financial support.
They accuse the government of attacking the Tamils, which is false propaganda to win over the sympathy of the International Community. The government forces are risking their lives in attacking the terrorists, avoiding the civil population , who are being used as human shields by the terrorists.
In that process the soldiers face innumerable dangers because of the booby traps and anti personal mines set up by the terrorists. The government of Sri Lanka has not neglected its responsibility to the Tamil people, and supply consumable articles and medicine on a weekly basis with the help of the UN Office in Sri Lanka. The Government is also preparing a package of political devolution to help the Tamil Community to integrate more firmly into the national fabric.
Please protect the sovereign State of Sri Lanka, without being tricked by a pro-terrorist Tamil Group in America, who has found access to you calling themselves “Tamils for Obama”. They accuse the government of Sri Lanka as carrying on a genocide against the Tamils. This is an extremely dangerous racist group, posing as wealthy Tamils settled down in America, inreality proxies for the terrorists in Sri Lanka. The terrorists in Sri Lanka calling themselves the LTTE ( Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), is currently proscribed as a terrorist organisation by 31 countries in the world.
We pray you President, to disassociate with the group who has found access to you calling themselves “ The Tamils for Obama”. Please remove them from your list of contributors for the election campaign. And before any action by word or action is made against the Government of Sri Lanka, please consult the President of the Sovereign State of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
May God bless you.
Monday, November 3, 2008
A true Christian cannot have racial prejudices. The God is love and created man in his own image. Such divine love cannot be subjected to “satanic” interest of domination of one race over the other for colour, language, religion, or wealth. Before God all human beings are equal. If there is another proposition it is not divine.
Therefore, if the Americans would hesitate to vote Barrack Obama for racial or religious prejudice, they are doing a wrong to themselves, their creator God, and the world of Nations.
Barrack Obama by his speech, act and thoughts have proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he would make a far greater President than McCain.
Barrack Obama is acceptable not only to the larger majority of Americans but to a larger majority of the Nations of the world. During , the eight years of aggressive politics of Bush Administration, and financial mismanagement; America needs a young forward looking President to bring back to America its lost respect and popularity of America, and put the finances back on to its “ feet”.
America is a nation that has given hope to the Nations of the World. America had come to help the world to find peace and liberty when it was much in need.
During the last eight years America had been blindfolded and taken down a wrong path to disaffection, destruction and disillusion. It is up to each American to give back to America its dwindling prestige, and its heroic role of a generous leader.
McCain at 72 is the past, past heroism, past pride, past honour.
Barack Obama at 47 is the future, future heroism, future, pride, and future honour.
Vote BARRACK OBAMA not for yourself, but for you children, for a better future and for the sake of those Nations looking for a change in America.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Whole world is with every American when he or she votes for BARRACK OBAMA
VOTE BARRACK OBAMA ON 4 NOVEMBER
Three days more and the on the 4th the great peopel of America will be voting to chose their next President. What a relief it would be if America changes to Democratic Party politics.
After several natural disasters, and killings by gun toting young criminals, the major human disaster caused by the Al Quaida, two major financial crashes, and a two depressive wars outside America which had taken many a noble lives of young American Solders, are the legacies that would be left behind by the eight years of Bush and Republican Administrations, to the future President to be elected on the 4th November,2008.
For the Americans who are ambitious for a better America, there is only one Choice. If they do not make that correct choice on the 4th November, they will be once again on the same trodden path, with wars , aggressions, economic mismanagements, and internally, suffering poverty, deprivation, tightening of belts, paying more taxes, diminution of welfare benefits for the middle and lower classes, with the already rich being richer and protected.
In order to avoid this latter bleak scenario, one should set aside ones, small time prejudices, fears, and mistrust and vote Barrack Obama.
Barrack Obama spells change, spells hope, spells peace and non aggression, spells unity at home, spells better social welfare, diminution of taxes, spells opportunities for the poor, spells better education.
USA is not conservative, self centred, with a class waiting for the bread crumbs falling from the tables of the rich. USA has evolved. USA is not petty minded to look down upon its own citizen because they are different, because they are poor, because they are outsiders.
Every USA citizen, is a citizen of USA whole and entire. They are not different because they have different beginning. They are not different, because they do not speak with the same accent. They are not different, because their skin is not of the same colour. Nevertheless, with all differences in a human being one could think of a every citizen of America is a full and entire citizen of USA.
Therefore, in an age where America had sent a man to the Moon, sent satellites to outer space, cannot speak ill of his neighbour who is black, white, yellow or brown. They are all sharing the same earth, same air and the same liberty .
Therefore, on the 4th November, when you vote for Barrack Obama, you vote not for a black, a half white, a Muslim, or a Christian. You will be voting for an American Democrat. And Barrack Obama, if he wins with each one of your vote cast for him, he will be just another President of USA.
But, he will be a different President, because he is a Democrat. He has the intellectual capacity to understand not only the Americans, but also the people of other Nations.
Not only America, but the people in Europe- France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and the rest that make up Europe, and the people of Asia- China, Japan, India and the rest of Asia, Australia, people of Africa, and the people of the countries of the Middle East are waiting with their arms open to welcome Barrack Obama as the President of USA.
Therefore, the American citizens who have the power in their hand to vote Barrack Obama should not hesitate, because the whole world is with you to acclaim BARRACK OBAMA as the PRESIDENT OF USA.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Obama for Change, or Mc Cain to Stagnate
America has to go into the future. I t had been lagging far too long in the past when USA was the uncontested leader of the World. With that mentality USA has not contributed to progress. The rich, the poor, the black, the brown, the yellow, and the white, make up the vast humanity of the world. USA should wake up to this reality , and go forward taking every one towards progress. There is the good, the bad , and the evil. We should rather not avoid the bad and the evil without making an effort to change the bad, to the better, and the evil to change its evil ways.
The war should be avoided, in exchange for peace and understanding. Dialogue should proceed aggression. McCain does not stand for progress. He will keep America and the world stagnating where they are. He has nothing new to propose. His ideas are hackneyed and out dated as much as his words are. He cannot change neither America, nor the world.
Americans should therefore, vote for some one who could change things to the better. Barrack Obama, is a new generation leader. He will surely change the hackneyed American mental make up. He speak new words , a new language. He acts differently and thinks differently . It is he who will bring progress to America and the world.
McCain thinks he has experience. What experience has he ? It is true that he was a war hero. He was held a prisoner by the Vietcong. He may not have betrayed state secrets, and USA war strategies to his captors to escape unhurt from them. He may have been in the Senate longer than Barrack Obama. Is that the experience he has, which makes him a better candidate ?
Barack Obama is learned. He is more intelligent to grasp world problems, and propose solutions. He is quick to understand, he could evaluate people, nations and their problems from an intellectual level. His mind is not stilted by a passion for a disciplined military sort of solutions.
Obama is a man of the people. He is philosophical, and understands human nature, probably much better than McCain.
He will be at home among the blacks, the browns, the yellows and the white. He will not turn away from the rich, the poor, the good and the evil. He is young. He is different. He proposes change, which is possible . He proposes peace, which is possible. He proposes dialogue against aggression, which is also possible.
What has Mc Cain proposed ? Nothing new. He has become an expert critic of what ever Barrack Obama proposes, without proposing any thing different, any thing new. Is American Presidential Elections an assertion of the White domination over the Black ? That is outmoded and depressively non-progressive.
It is not God that proposes change. It is man’s duty to use God given intelligence to change. If they chose to remain where they are, they will vote McCain.
If they want to change, for peace, and live in harmony with the rest of the world they will choose Barrack Obama.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sarah Palin anf John McCain fall into lowest level ......
John McCain and Sarah Palin have unfortunately brought the Presidential election of America to the lowest level. They are opening the closet doors, and even toilets to find material to attack Barack Obama even for his undigested meals. This is quite in contravention to respectable political rivalry expected from the Civilized Society .
This “filth” dug up to throw at Barack Obama goes well with some of the Republican supporters as it was seen in one or two You Tubes, where the Republican Supporters were ridiculing the Democratic Presidential Candidate for his name, his association with persons, and his ancestors, calling him a terrorists. What low tactics ! It was sickening an most scandalous.
Sarah Palin seemed to take a lively interest in arousing the crowds insulting the Democratic Presidential Candidate. It is not political ethics to disrespectfully ridicule the opposition candidate. He should be respected as much as one expects oneself to be respected. After all Barack Obama is the Presidential Candidate of USA, there should be decorum and respect towards the person who may be the elected President. In the Presidential Elections criticism of the opponent should be very well thought out without going down to personal level.
In that respect we take our hats off to Democratic Party Candidates- both Barack Obama and Joe Biden carry on a responsible, clean, and prober elction campaign without falling in to the trap of falling into the lowest level into which the Republican Candidates have fallen in their campaign.
A candidate may either win the elections or loose it, but they are still on the election campaign. Therefore, they should maintain the high standard of political respectability expected in a Presidential election. They may criticise the political experience, the political programmes suggested by the candidates, their ability to convince the public on their projects. They may be critical of the qualifications, past experience in their respective professions. But it would unbecoming of one candidate to speak about the opponents name, invent belief in religions to which he does not adhere.
A candidate should not be accused of the company he had kept in the past, under estimating his strength of character not to have been influenced by the company he had kept. The people constantly change, learning from life’s experiences. A persons engagement in activities with various individual does not necessarily sully once character. One should be intelligent enough to measure and evaluate a person from what he is now, not casting aspersions because of his links in the past.
“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages”
Barack Obama is a pacifist, a humanitarian, a philosopher and a man of the world.
He is worth many Palins and McCains. Obama should not be measured from the company he kept yesterday, but from what his mind has been moulded. For the Mahatma Gandhi Service day on the 2 October,2008, he issued a message which contained the follwong two paragraphs, which gives an insight into where his mental strength comes from:
"....Gandhi's significance is universal. Countless people around the world have been touched by his spirit and example - his victory in turn inspired a generation of young Americans to peacefully wipe out a system of overt oppression that had endured for a century, and more recently led to velvet revolutions in Eastern Europe and extinguished apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke of their great debt to Gandhi. His portrait hangs in my office to remind me that real change will not come from Washington - it will come when the people, united, bring it to Washington.
This is a pivotal election. This is our time for change. For far too long, we've watched as ordinary Americans work harder and harder for less and less. We've watched our standing in the world erode as we continue to lose American lives in a war that should've never been authorized and never been waged. I need you to stand up and work for change. Let us all rededicate ourselves, every day from now until November 4th, and beyond, to living Gandhi's call to be the change we wish to see in the world."
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Joe Biden was a colossus compared to Sarah Palin
Who said Sarah Palin did better than Biden ? No body did in fact, every one was watching Sarah Palin. She did not come any where close to Joe Biden. Joe Biden is a colossus compared to school girlish Palin.
Sarah Palin did not say much on her own, much of what she said seemed to have been prepared. She was playing to win the spectators with her sly smiles, winks and coy, shy demeanor . She could not explain many questions on taxes and state accountability with any expertise.
She had no factn enough experience to go on to answer National questions. Alaska being a small place compared to the rest of America, her experience as governor is no more than being a Chairman of a Sports club. It is perhaps the wrong thing to say, but Americans are surely not that short of intelligence to understand that she is a wrong choice, for such position as the Vice President to a 72 year old Presidential candidate. The Vice President should be complementary to the President. She should fill the space that the President is not competent enough to fill.
Joe Biden, was brilliant in the exposition of detailed financial intricacies of Taxes, and what should be retained and what should be left out to save on the budget. His exposition of issues were more technical and therefore perhaps outside the ordinary spectators competence to understand. Therefore, the coy womanly expressions served with her pleasant voice, and engaging smiles may have attracted the viewer. But American Presidential Elections is not just a stage show. Being the Vice President is a serious matter . The Americans are not electing a President for America, but the whole world is looking forward to this election. Therefore, the American people have a responsibility to take a serious view of their choice of a President. The Vice President is only a part of the Presidential responsibility.
Barack Obama, has made a wise selection in the choice of his Vice President. Joe Biden has the personality, ability to explain intricate financial matters to the people, and experience in the Senate being Chairman of several committees.
Joe Biden is undoubtedly the more competent Vice President, and with Barack Obamas two of them will be the best combination for the American Presidential election.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
America deserves something better
Many are looking forward , to the Sarah Palin-Joe Biden debate. Thought there is not much to be expected, it would be an occasion, nevertheless, to watch McCain's prized catch in action.
They talk of change and with Sarah Palin what a change it is going to be. One may perhaps say that after eight years of Bush , any change is better than nothing. But for whatever change America deserves better than a Palin nor a McCain for that matter.
Palin’s World of Angels, and Miracles is perhaps good for Alaska, but is it good enough for larger America and the world outside waiting for a real change in the American Administration. McCain cannot boast much on personal level with a woman dumped for being on a wheel chair, and a history of chasing beauties….
Coming back to the great debate, I am sure she will swear by the god that, if there is going to be a war any where else, after Iraq and Afghanistan it would be the Gods will and one can do nothing about it.
Women according to her have no personal choices other than what the god has decided for them. She is very good at handling guns having practiced it as a sport in Alaska. Therefore, she may also be an expert to advice on modern warfare using more sophisticated arms and artillery. There is going to be much for the world to expect from her pronouncements about how to deal with Iran, Russia and North Korea.
Joe Biden is known for his “gaffs”, but though he is not great with his words he is a genius with figures . With what the Bush Administration had done with the American finances, we really need a man like Joe Biden to shake things up and put some order into the world’ finances.
Barack Obama cannot be pushed over because the Republicans say he has no experience. But surprisingly Obama shows the ability to grasp a problem, and thinking over it to make an intelligent decision. He is young, intelligent and has much youthful force to tackle a problem, as much as any experienced politician. He is definitely more experienced than McCain in intellectual political debate, and decision making. McCain had been an army hero, therefore experienced in military affairs. We have had enough of military affairs under Bush not to have any more with McCain if elected for his war experience.
America needs an intellectual leader even to use the army for the betterment of the world for and improve human relations than, an army man who would think that the army is the weapon that has to be used to dominate the world making America some sort of a “Robocop”.
Barack Obama, has the world appeal, that inspires trust and friendship, which America lacked in its role as the world leader.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Do the Americans want a Comedian, and a Religious Fanatic to be their Vice President
If the Americans we know of vote for Sarah Palin, there would surely be some thing gone wrong with their intelligent grasp of politics. In India, lot of voters vote with their hearts than with their heads. The same may be said of the Americans if they would vote Sarah Palin. The fact that she is a woman has nothing to do in political evaluation of a candidate for the second highest office in America.
Sarah Palin came in to the lime light of the American working class, to become their heroine through her daughter’s juvenile sexual escapade that left a mark, her religious fantasy, and her constant jabs at Barack Obama. Both Barack Obama and Joe Biden could speak to the intelligent Americans on political matters that concern the Americans as well as the World. But McCain has substituted his oratorical inability by some one equal to a stage comedian who could make the popular audience laugh and raise their fists.
Sarah Palin has no intellectual appeal, her language is just a common irritable caustic bravado, that seems to appeal to the Republicans. It is time she starts speaking about some thing sensible. Making verbal attacks at her opponents may appeal to those who seek entertainment, but not to those who look for intelligence and words of wisdom from one who is to occupy high office, to promote America as a world leader.
After eight years of Bush administration, the American’s seems to be really in for change from the Republican Party in putting forward two people who cannot stand up to the American image of intelligent well informed people, who are able to command respect and qualitative world leadership.
Sarah Palin if she is to appeal to the American intelligentsia has to learn to present factual information not as a woman appealing to women’s votes, but as a politician representing America as a world leader. Her language is too plain, and uninspiring, except to those that seek popular entertainment. Her personal attacks against Barack Obama and Joe Biden, speaks of her lack of refinement as a politician.
Sarah Palin is in no way near to a politician of the Hilary Clinton calibre. It would be a sad day to America if she gets elected. Mc Cain though not clever with words has at least a heroic military background which alone is not enough to occupy the highest office of America. His nomination for the Presidential elections shows the bankruptcy of the Republican Party politics.
Barack Obama should be accepted as a politician not for his colour, or experience. He has shown that he has the quality necessary to b the President of USA. He has not only a personal appeal , that could collect an audience of 200,000 people in Berlin at short notice, but also the intelligence to evaluate situations and take decisions.
Barack Obama would be a world leader of considerable ability. Joe Biden is an experienced, wise and appealing politician on his own. Obama-Biden ticket for the Presidential elections is the best America has had after a long time. That would really be a “God send” for America !
The American voters overly excited about the nomination of Sarah Palin to be the Vice President, should ask themselves the question why Hillary Clinton was not selected as the Democratic candidate for the office of Vice President. It is probably because there are other positions of importance reserved for her in the event Barack Obama is elected the President of USA. And it may also be possible that Hillary Clinton, who has political ambition may not want to play the second fiddle to Barack Obama, keeping herself free to be the next President of USA after Barack Obama.
Sarah Palin cannot be compared to Hillary Clinton, nor to Joe Biden, as both Clinton and Biden are worthy candidates for the highest office in USA. Sarah Palin cannot hold a candle to either one of them, that is an evident fact, from the way she is presenting her self to the American voters.
Both Palin and McCain if elected , will be dependent on the bureaucrats, which does not auger well for America. It had been under the same system of State Department managed politics for the last eight years-the Bush administration. Hope sanity will prevail among the American people in the decision they take to vote for the Presidential Candidate in November.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Welcome to Barack Obama- Joe Biden Presidential ticket
Starting from to-day in Denver is the Democratic Convention at which Barack Obama is to be invested as the Official Democratic Candidate for the USA Presidential Election. On Friday 22nd August, Barack Obama named his Vice Presidential Candidate, perhaps to the chagrin of many who expected a Obama-Clinton ticket.
Perhaps it was wise to have dropped Hillary Clinton as , the campaign for the nomination was long and hard with personal attacks to each other, which may in the long run in a close official relationship may have repercussions. And secondly it would be favourable to Hillary Clinton, not to be the Vice President now as it may affect her future campaigns for the Presidential elections of 2012.
Anyway, the choice has been made. The selection of Senator Joseph Biden who had been holding the position for 35 years, and his experience as the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee will stand well to make the Obama-Biden ticket to be favourably accepted by the Americans of all political and racial shades.
Joe Biden exudes energy and it would be a quality to match Obama’s more youthful exuberance, considering that septuagenarian Mc Cain’s would be hard put to contribute any thing different from what the Americans have had experienced through out the Presidential periods of Reagan or Bush. It is time that America looks at the world and its political systems with a new eye. It is time also that American politics of aggressive interference, pushing itself like a thug to change the world governments to follow the line demarcated by the American State Department ends.
If America is to be a world leader in the modern time with new political super powers like Russia, China,Iran and India coming into being, it has to change its hitherto followed outmoded policies. It has to change the system to one of generosity, acceptance, dialogue and friendly coexistence.
For this reason Obama-Biden ticket seems most suitable, and therefore, hope that the Americans change themselves to accept change without sticking to old hackneyed, deplorable ego centric world leadership mentality.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Congratulations Brave American People
How wanderful to see the Americans rising above racial prejudice to campaign for Barrack Obama the Demeocratic Nominee for the USA Presidential Election.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Barack Obama's speech to the Cuban American National Foundation was a disappointment.
Barack Obama made a faux pas in his speech to the Cuban American National Foundation, or did he ? His speech did not inspire those who expect change of attitude of the American Administration towards developing countries, if and when Barack Obama is appointed as the President of USA. According to what he said in his speech, it would be the continuation of the same American system that we had been used to under Bush, Reagan or even Kennedy.
Perhaps the speech was earmarked to please the Cuban Americans to win their vote, but what he has stated in his speech is not the whole truth. He said, “……..Throughout my entire life, there has been injustice in Cuba. Never, in my lifetime, have the people of Cuba known freedom. Never, in the lives of two generations of Cubans, have the people of Cuba known democracy. This is the terrible and tragic status quo that we have known for half a century – of elections that are anything but free or fair; of dissidents locked away in dark prison cells for the crime of speaking the truth. I won’t stand for this injustice, you won’t stand for this injustice, and together we will stand up for freedom in Cuba. “
This is the American view of Cuba. This is what he may have heard of from the previous American Administrations. America wants all the countries to follow their system of government, their system of democracy. America would not stand for any thing else. That is why the American administration is unpopular. If Obama does not change his attitude, his becoming the President of America will change nothing. It will be the same old wine in the same old bottle.
It is America with its commercial embargo, severely condemned by the National Assembly of the UN, and despite its resolution 56/9 of the 27th of November 2001, that has deprived Cuba to exercise its freedom as a nation. America has thwarted the every aspect of development of Cuba, such as research on health, education and culture.
Despite the embargo imposed on Cuba by USA, against the world opinion demonstrated by votes in the UN since 1992, Cuba has progressed in many fields of social welfare activities. Their Medical System is highly advanced, and Cuba generously imparts their knowledge to developing countries without any conditions attached to such aid and assistance. It is America which has violated the human right to Cuba to exist as an independent nation.
The cause of liberty Obama says he will never ever compromise, cannot be achieved by threatening to continuing the commercial embargo against Cuba, or by forcing the Cuban government to change its chosen system of governance. Cuba has the potential of development but the most cruel embargo set up by USA since 1962, and reinforced in 1992 has hindered the development of its potentials.
The Cuban Democracy Act has restrained the inflow of funds and goods to Cuba. Some of these restrictions are: “……i) the strict limitations of the transfers of foreign currencies by the families in exile, ii) the six-months ban to enter U.S. harbours of all ships that had anchored in a Cuban port, iii) sanctions against firms doing commerce with the island even though under the jurisdiction of a third state. The embargo was systematized by the Cuban Liberty and Democracy Solidarity Act ("Helms Burton Law") of March 1996, aimed to harden the "international" sanctions against Cuba. Its Title I generalizes the ban to import Cuban goods, demanding, for example, that exporters give proof that no Cuban sugar has been integrated in their products…….”.
Obama says “….After eight years of the disastrous policies of George Bush, it is time to pursue direct diplomacy, with friend and foe alike, without preconditions. …” But what is this direct diplomacy Obama proposes ? Answer to that in his own words is, “….. only when we have an opportunity to advance the interests of the United States.”
That is what it had always been even Allende’s Socialist Chile was not allowed to exist for that very reason.
Obama says his policy towards Cuba is guided by one word: Libertad. But that is the Libertad as understood by the Americans . But what is libertad understood by the people of Cuba ? If Obama wants to liberate Cuba it is not by interfering into the working of the Cuban government, but by allowing the Cuba to exist as a normal free Nation, with the right to import and export goods from or to wherever Cuba wants.
This Barack Obama, the hopeful USA President, who we expect will change the American System goes on to say , “……….I will maintain the embargo. It provides us with the leverage to present the regime with a clear choice: if you take significant steps toward democracy, beginning with the freeing of all political prisoners, we will take steps to begin normalizing relations. That’s the way to bring about real change in Cuba – through strong, smart and principled diplomacy.” He wants to play with the lives of men, women , and children in Cuba, and changes nothing of the existing system.
The question of release of political prisoners, should not be a reason to lift the embargo. The lifting the embargo is against human rights of the people of Cuba. It is against the freedom for a country to exist as a sovereign state without being interfered into its internal affairs. America itself is not innocent with regard to prisoners. There is much to be said about Guantanmo detainees.
Obama does not stop with threatening Cuba, because he goes on to say, “……And we know that freedom across our hemisphere must go beyond elections. In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez is a democratically elected leader. But we also know that he does not govern democratically. He talks of the people, but his actions just serve his own power. Yet the Bush Administration's blustery condemnations and clumsy attempts to undermine Chavez have only strengthened his hand.”
Barack Obama seems to want to impose American Democracy every where in the world. He should limit his proposals to speech, without converting it to action. His idea of direct diplomacy is a good idea , if he is ready to accept other sovereign states with democratically elected leaders, as they are without demanding them to change the political system to suit the American Administration.
America if it is to change and win popularity of the world nations should be more generous towards developing countries. It should extend its hand of friendship without considering the political colour of the countries, without the ulterior motive of changing the political systems.
He should give back to UN its rightful place. UNO should be made the forum where any political decision affecting any member state is taken up. No country, should interfere into a member state of the UN without first consulting the UN.
These are the principles on which Barack Obama should prepare his government’s policies. That would be a real change from what America had been so far.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Let us hope that Barack Obama as the next President of USA , would export peace and good will , rather than war and destruction.
In the long campaign for the Nomination of a Candidate from the Democratic Party for the election for the Presidential election of the USA in November,2008, the winner is the “American people “. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were just two candidates. And it is significant that the American people elected a candidate not because of colour or gender, but because it demonstrates Unity , to show the world that real democracy is still living and breathing in the USA to-day.
We look forward to the confirmation of this great show of undivided American Unity and its great democratic wisdom, in the final choice of the President of the USA in November this year. In selecting Barack Obama for the Presidential election, the Americans have shown that of the two candidates, the finally elected President should be either a Republican, or a Democratic, without distinction of colour, or creed.
This is a remarkable turn of events in America where the nation, apart from the ethnic American Indians, is made up of pioneers who left their homelands to begin a life, in the New World. The Afro-Americans were the only community, that was not a part of that exodus to the New World. They were the natives of Africa, “kidnapped” by slave traders, and forcibly transported in atrocious conditions, and sold like chattel into slavery.
Though Barack Obama’s ancestors have no connection to these sad beginnings, he nevertheless, represents a great majority of Afro-Americans of such origin. Therefore the Afro-Americans are a more honourable community that was forcibly displaced, which today, with the ascension of Barack Obama into a privileged position in American politics, asserts its African origin, and vindicates the humiliation and the deprivation of its rightful place in the American Society.
American democrats’ acceptance of Barack Obama, as a respectable American to be the next President of U.S.A , is a credit to the noble aspiration of the American people. Obama is by far the best to represent America any where in the world. He will be accepted by those who had been critical of the American leadership, as a positive contribution to the world shattered through terrorism, divided through religious, social, and economic disharmony, and suffering in poverty.
The world in turmoil today needs, the leadership of a nation which is economically and technologically rich, to promote peace. The world does not want a militarily powerful America, but it wants an America which is open to dialogue, an America which is generous, and ready to accept different political points of view, an America that would understand that the breeding ground of hatred, and discord among nations is the social and economic inequality, an America that will be able to coordinate the rich nations to develop the poor nations.
The problem of immigration, the developed countries are facing to-day is the result of non development of poor countries which are left to stagnate in poverty.
The world needs an America that would take steps, in collaboration with the UNO, to ban the production and sale of arms and ammunitions, and use that money to develop the countries of the third world. This had been so far neglected by the rich Nations, as destruction and the division of the poor countries is a means to maintain power and leadership. Some of the recent American Presidents did not export peace and goodwill, but used wealth and technology to promote war and destruction.
The world expects Barack Obama to change the “tradition” to bring peace to the world.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Barack Obama will change aggressive American Politics, to make democracy meaningful.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is a courageous candidate. She is of course a worthy candidate for the USA Presidential election, much more preferable to the Republican candidate.
But Barack Obama is far ahead of Hillary Clinton in delegates count, and for all intents and purposes Obama is as good as having been nominated. Further gains by Hillary Clinton in elections in the caucuses will not change the present trend. Therefore, Hillary Clinton’s decision to go on with the campaign until the last only shows, that she is a bad looser. That does not give her any credit for her future political carrier.
Hillary Clinton should know when to accept defeat, and if she does the American people would appreciate her the more. It is evident that the voters are getting tired of the Democratic Party’s endless campaign for the selection of a nominee. The Party should have a mechanism to stop a candidate from continuing the election campaign when it becomes apparent that one of the candidates has out spaced the others. The present situation is detrimental to the Democratic Party, as its unity is now at stake. The Republican Party is to gain if there is division in the Democratic vote bank.
In continuing her campaign undaunted despite knowing , that she would not obtain the minimum delegate count, Hillary Clinton sacrifices her allegiance to the party to realise her stubborn determination to continue to the last.
She has apparently nothing more to add to her already known credentials, as the suitable candidate to be the President of USA. She says she is more experienced than, Obama, which she cannot count upon, as experience is some thing that one is not born with, but which one gains. Barack Obama in the course of the present campaign has gained considerable credibility, and that adds to the experience he already has.
The other claim Hillary Clinton makes is that she is the most suitable Democratic candidate to defeat the Republican candidate. That claim is perhaps based on the fact that she had won more caucuses in her favour, or that she could get the votes of the larger number of white voters. But Barack Obama is a candidate of unity. During the campaign Obama has clearly demonstrated, that he is able to bind the white, and the black American Democrats to a one whole unity of American voters, which thus far no candidate either Democratic or Republican in the USA had been able to achieve.
To-day, in a world where USA is most unpopular, and being condemned for its aggressive politics, Obama would be a change. There is already a sense of hope that Barack Obama is the candidate, who if elected would be able to make the American democratic leadership meaningful, and settle opposition to America, and accept it as a nation who can bring the much needed peace to the world.
By continuing her campaign despite her evident loss to Obama, Hillary Clinton shows her greed for power rather than the desire to save America from the Republican-Bush administration and to bring back the Democratic Party into power. The prolonged campaign for nominations has caused much damage to Obama, and Hillary Clinton therefore forfeits her right for the Vice Presidential ticket under Obama.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Hillary Clinton should gracefully bow out of the Nomination Campaign
It is fair and reasonable that Hillary Rodham Clinton, bows to the people and stop further campaigning, allowing Barack Obama to prepare himself to meet his Republican rival for the final stage of the Presidential election. Ms. Clinton has shown herself a formidable Presidential Candidate. She is courageous and conducted herself exemplary well through out her election campaign. She would undoubtedly have been a most acceptable candidate for the Democratic nomination, and a wonderful President.
But the situation has changed and Barack Obama has proved himself the choice of the American Democrats. Further prolongation of the Democratic Party’s choice of its candidate, would provide nothing significant to Ms. Hillary Clinton, as the choice seems to have been already made. Further campaigning would only tire the voters, not to mention the negative effect on the final choice of the Democrats at the elections in November .
The Republican Party already has its candidate. He has the field free to win over the floating votes in his favour, which would be detrimental to the Democratic candidate who is still not on the campaign trail for the Presidential election. Therefore, the energy and vitality of the Democratic candidate should be preserved for the greater stake in November.
Ms. Hillary Clinton may win further caucuses if she continues her campaign, but that would not give her an edge over Barack Obama. Whether one likes it or not Barack Obama is already the choice of the Democrats, and the American people will appreciate it if Ms. Hillary Clinton gracefully admits it and bows out.
Further campaign may entrains heated questions, responses, and allegations from one candidate to another , which would be used by the anti Obama media reporters to cash on to use them against Barack Obama. One sees how an un-thoughtful statement made at the heat of the moment or at a moment of fatigue by Michelle Obama is being used by the media to challenge the suitability of the Candidate himself as the President of USA.
Therefore, wisdom should prevail in the Democratic camp to stop further campaigning for the nomination, and accept Barack Obama as the democratic choice for the USA Presidential election.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
What do the Tamils in Sri Lanka really want ?
Mr.N.Pullenayagam writing to Sri Lanka Guardian on he 30 March,2008 on “ What do the Tamils really want ?”, says, that all Tamils in Sri Lanka wants an Eelam is only an assumption. But the Tamils object to being second class citizens, and want to be regarded as equal citizens in every way with the Sinhalaese. Not having this equal status with the Sinhala, the Tamil leadership in desperation asked for Eelam in 1976. Even then “… many Tamils did not sincerely want Eelam. They preferred equality of status in an undivided Sri Lanka, for they realised the disadvantages that Eelam would bring to both Tamils and Sinhalese.”
This then is the core issue, that has driven Sri Lanka to an ethnic problem. The Tamils want to enjoy equal rights with Sinhala. The Tamils of course, cannot be Sinhala, nor the Sinhala Tamils. Each has to be satisfied with what one is. On the other hand the Sinhala want nothing else, other than to live in peace with the Tamils. As far as the Sinhala are concerned they do not go round telling every one that they are of the majority community. Those are matters for statistics and more importantly in elections. The Tamils wanting to be equal in every respect to a Sinhala is a psychological problem. It also points to an inferiority complex, the Sinhala do not want to impose themselves on the Tamils as the majority community.
The Tamils seeking a separate Eelam, in not being able to be equal to Sinhala, is a wrong way to settle the problem. There are minority communities living in other countries in the world who have the same problem. The black American Community is a good example. They have been fighting for equality with the white Americans for ages. But in doing so they did not ask for a separate State for the Black Americans. But they sought to achieve it differently, not through displaying their blackness, but using their blackness to be identified also as American.
The Black Americans infiltrated into the white American political system as Americans. They did not organise a separate Political Party for the Black Americans, but joined the political parties of the White Americans. The situation is clear in what is going on today in America for the next Presidential election. A Black American is seeking nomination by the Democratic Party for the American Presidential election. And it is very likely that the next American President may be a Black American.
Does‘nt that open the eyes of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, who do not want to be second class citizens, but in every way be equal to Sinhala ? Who has created the difference ? Is it not the Tamils who have identified themselves as Tamils, and not equal to Sinhala ?
By organising separate political parties exclusively for the Tamils, the Tamils themselves have separated from the Sinhala. Would n’t it have been different if there were the political parties not of the Sinhala or the Tamils, but just the political parties of the people of Sri Lanka ?
UNP, SLFP, JVP, MEP, LSSP, CP , and even JHU are not Political Parties with a racial identity. Why cannot the Tamils join one of these parties, and work together with the Sinhala ? If they do that there would be no feeling of separateness between the Sinhala and the Tamils.
Mr. Pullenayagam says, “ …… It may be urged by some Sinhalese that there is, in fact, no discrimination against the Tamils. This may appear to be so in theory, but if the Sinhalese were to make private enquiries from their Tamil friends they will soon realise that, rightly or wrongly, the Tamils and other minorities, feel a sense of discrimination. It is this feeling of discrimination that must be set right.”
This feeling of a sense of discrimination comes from the fact that the Tamils are seeking a separate identity from the Sinhala. But if the Tamils were to be like the Black Americans, and were to work politically together with the Sinhala in the same political parties, wouldn’t it be easy to be equal in every way to Sinhala, and also have a Tamil President one day in Sri Lanka ?
This then is the core issue, that has driven Sri Lanka to an ethnic problem. The Tamils want to enjoy equal rights with Sinhala. The Tamils of course, cannot be Sinhala, nor the Sinhala Tamils. Each has to be satisfied with what one is. On the other hand the Sinhala want nothing else, other than to live in peace with the Tamils. As far as the Sinhala are concerned they do not go round telling every one that they are of the majority community. Those are matters for statistics and more importantly in elections. The Tamils wanting to be equal in every respect to a Sinhala is a psychological problem. It also points to an inferiority complex, the Sinhala do not want to impose themselves on the Tamils as the majority community.
The Tamils seeking a separate Eelam, in not being able to be equal to Sinhala, is a wrong way to settle the problem. There are minority communities living in other countries in the world who have the same problem. The black American Community is a good example. They have been fighting for equality with the white Americans for ages. But in doing so they did not ask for a separate State for the Black Americans. But they sought to achieve it differently, not through displaying their blackness, but using their blackness to be identified also as American.
The Black Americans infiltrated into the white American political system as Americans. They did not organise a separate Political Party for the Black Americans, but joined the political parties of the White Americans. The situation is clear in what is going on today in America for the next Presidential election. A Black American is seeking nomination by the Democratic Party for the American Presidential election. And it is very likely that the next American President may be a Black American.
Does‘nt that open the eyes of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, who do not want to be second class citizens, but in every way be equal to Sinhala ? Who has created the difference ? Is it not the Tamils who have identified themselves as Tamils, and not equal to Sinhala ?
By organising separate political parties exclusively for the Tamils, the Tamils themselves have separated from the Sinhala. Would n’t it have been different if there were the political parties not of the Sinhala or the Tamils, but just the political parties of the people of Sri Lanka ?
UNP, SLFP, JVP, MEP, LSSP, CP , and even JHU are not Political Parties with a racial identity. Why cannot the Tamils join one of these parties, and work together with the Sinhala ? If they do that there would be no feeling of separateness between the Sinhala and the Tamils.
Mr. Pullenayagam says, “ …… It may be urged by some Sinhalese that there is, in fact, no discrimination against the Tamils. This may appear to be so in theory, but if the Sinhalese were to make private enquiries from their Tamil friends they will soon realise that, rightly or wrongly, the Tamils and other minorities, feel a sense of discrimination. It is this feeling of discrimination that must be set right.”
This feeling of a sense of discrimination comes from the fact that the Tamils are seeking a separate identity from the Sinhala. But if the Tamils were to be like the Black Americans, and were to work politically together with the Sinhala in the same political parties, wouldn’t it be easy to be equal in every way to Sinhala, and also have a Tamil President one day in Sri Lanka ?
Friday, March 7, 2008
Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton , either one is better than a weary old Soldier to be the President of U.S.A.
Barak Obama’s fantastic lead against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination shows the American peoples desire for a radical political change in the Country. The People are tired of the policies carried out by the Bush administration. Bush and the Republican Party policies have failed to lead America towards a progressive leadership.
Bush is a war monger and his force lies in, to what extent he could use force and aggression to make countries accept his policies. Under Republicans America has failed to present itself as an acceptable world leader. In the 21st century the world needs a different leadership to what America proposes under its hackneyed conservative thinking.
The world is tired of war, and intolerance. World needs a leadership that is modern, peaceful, understanding, and generous. If America is to continue its role of a world leader, it has to change its narrow self interest, and step in as a leader who is prepared to help and cooperate with those countries that need help. The development of the poor countries will help the developed countries. Most of the problems that the developed countries are faced with today such as immigration , and unemployment could be overcome by adopting policies to develop the poor countries. The developed countries seek to develop further their economy for their benefit without cooperating with the rest of the world.
There was a time when excess consumer produce was dumped in the high seas to maintain high prices. This inhuman policies should be stopped if they are being continued to-day. The excess production could be sent as aid or sold at a reasonably low prices to poor countries, suffering from lack of food due to inability to produce consumer goods due to water shortage.
In this 21st century the rich countries should be prepared to share their wealth with the developing countries instead of seeking financial benefit for their luxurious living conditions. This the Bush administration ignored, trying to be a super power using high technology for military dominance in the world.
America as a world leader should be able to solve political and economic problems of the rest of the world not by displaying its militaristic power, but by adopting a more acceptable relationship with the other countries, cooperating with them and engaging with them in a constructive dialogue in a friendly atmosphere reverting from its attitude of a war lord dictating terms to developing countries.
This is the reason why Americans should select a young and a forceful leadership. Barack Obama would be an ideal American President in the present world where indiscipline, intolerance, and terror rein. Obama is new and presents a neutral leadership the world would accept. Such a leadership will herald in a new world order of peace and understanding.
Hillary Clinton too has that ability to come down to the level of the ordinary people, and understand their problems. That would qualify her for leadership, as both America and the world need a leader who listens, and not one who dictates, without listening. In both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton the Americans have a good choice which ever way they wish to make a final decision at the Democratic Convention. Any one of them is quite capable of bringing back to America its lost popularity in the world.
Obama or Clinton, either one is certainly far better than a weary old soldier to be the next President of U.S..A.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Republican Party should change
Republican Party in presenting its nominees for the Presidential Elections, has shown its inability to change from its age old conservative reactionary policies which had made America unpopular. The Republican Administration lacks progressive ideas. It cannot get away from its conceited, aggressive confrontational mentality.
The Republican Party lacks men and women who could inspire change and hope for the future. As science and technology keeps on advancing into the fathomless Universe, discovering new planets and star systems, the old Republicans remain bogged down in the morass of their old world mentality
Under George Bush America became a bully. It pushed aside the UN, and the opponents of its reactionary methods and bungled into Iraq. Having not learnt any lesson from its failed adventure into Iraq, it tries to enforce its nuclear non proliferation policies with force, and aggressive diplomacy. It uses threat, inhuman policy of trade embargo, and economic sanctions to force other governments to accept its policies. The most unpopular, barbarous and the longest trade embargo against Cuba show the American intolerance of governments that do not fall in line with its policies.
Republicans have no future for world leadership, its political bankruptcy within the American Society is seen in its having had failed to present a younger candidate on whom the nation could place its hope, and recover the lost popularity of America among the nations of the world, and propose more human policies which are acceptable to a new world order.
The Republican Candidate John McCain at 71 does not inspire confidence and a credible leadership. He is for war and a leadership with force- another Bush in the making. People have had enough of war. It is time that America has a young leader who has new ideas and new values, not to threaten and subjugate leaders of other Nations But a leader who could unify the world opinion for peace and progress. A leader who could work with others in an atmosphere of friendly cordiality. It is not necessary to be aggressive even with one’s enemy, a leader with a friendly disposition could bring peace and order, through persuasion changing the cruel to be kind , vindictive to be compassionate.
In a world given to terror, ruthlessness, animosity rigorous competition for leadership, the Republican Party cannot offer peace and reconciliation. Fidel Castro is one of the 20th Centuries’ greatest political leaders, who despite enmity of developed nations made remarkable advancement in social welfare in Cuba. On the news of his retirement, the Bush administration demonstrated its inability to be polite, diplomatic, friendly, or even democratic, by reiterating its continued economic sanctions and trade embargo against Cuba. What a good neighbourly thoughtfulness !!! Is this the type of leadership that we are going to have in electing a Republican President ?
The Republican Party lacks men and women who could inspire change and hope for the future. As science and technology keeps on advancing into the fathomless Universe, discovering new planets and star systems, the old Republicans remain bogged down in the morass of their old world mentality
Under George Bush America became a bully. It pushed aside the UN, and the opponents of its reactionary methods and bungled into Iraq. Having not learnt any lesson from its failed adventure into Iraq, it tries to enforce its nuclear non proliferation policies with force, and aggressive diplomacy. It uses threat, inhuman policy of trade embargo, and economic sanctions to force other governments to accept its policies. The most unpopular, barbarous and the longest trade embargo against Cuba show the American intolerance of governments that do not fall in line with its policies.
Republicans have no future for world leadership, its political bankruptcy within the American Society is seen in its having had failed to present a younger candidate on whom the nation could place its hope, and recover the lost popularity of America among the nations of the world, and propose more human policies which are acceptable to a new world order.
The Republican Candidate John McCain at 71 does not inspire confidence and a credible leadership. He is for war and a leadership with force- another Bush in the making. People have had enough of war. It is time that America has a young leader who has new ideas and new values, not to threaten and subjugate leaders of other Nations But a leader who could unify the world opinion for peace and progress. A leader who could work with others in an atmosphere of friendly cordiality. It is not necessary to be aggressive even with one’s enemy, a leader with a friendly disposition could bring peace and order, through persuasion changing the cruel to be kind , vindictive to be compassionate.
In a world given to terror, ruthlessness, animosity rigorous competition for leadership, the Republican Party cannot offer peace and reconciliation. Fidel Castro is one of the 20th Centuries’ greatest political leaders, who despite enmity of developed nations made remarkable advancement in social welfare in Cuba. On the news of his retirement, the Bush administration demonstrated its inability to be polite, diplomatic, friendly, or even democratic, by reiterating its continued economic sanctions and trade embargo against Cuba. What a good neighbourly thoughtfulness !!! Is this the type of leadership that we are going to have in electing a Republican President ?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama
Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama
By Charles Perera
The American Presidential Election campaign is on . After Iowa the Attention is focussed on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the nomination of the Democratic Presidential Candidate. After Nevada Hillary Clinton is the fore runner with Obama not doing so badly as the second on the run. Though South Carolina is not a decisive vote , but its large black voting population will be a challenge to Obama. Even if Obama were to get a significant lead in South Carolina that would not assure his nomination, the battle is still not over.
In South Carolina Hillary Clinton has found a dynamic campaigner in Bill Clinton. But , the fault with his speeches to please the gallery, are that they make him out to be the candidate. It should be only the candidate who should attack the opponent, therefore, it leaves a bad taste when some one else campaigning for her does the personal attacks. It is best that Bill Clinton plays down his role a bit to remain in the back ground, to assure the voters that it is a candidate opposed to George Bush that is seeking nomination.
Hillary Clinton should be more flexible, and take on more confidence. Her speeches should come more from her heart than from her head. That is how she made herself more voter friendly, and sincere to win votes in Nevada. She is a pleasant candidate, and she seems to be doing well. The media will not be kind to a woman presidential candidate, being more chauvinist- favouring a masculine leadership. The way to out do it, is to appeal more to the women voters. The women voters are prone to stay away from voting , thus remaining as the floating vote in an election. If they could be motivated to caste their vote for feminine leadership in politics, the day would be won for Hillary Clinton.
Hillary Clinton should speak more on black people emphasising the necessity to be open to them to give them more of the chance so far denied to them. She should speak of the, ghettoes, the poor , the underprivileged, and dropouts. The presidential campaign should be to bring together all Americans. The American Indians are left in the cold, how is the future America going to improve their conditions of living, and give them a share in the building of a future American Nation. These are matters that seem to have been left out.
America has also taken over the responsibility for a large numbers of South East Asian Immigrants. Is America going to pursue a segregationist national system or bring all together into a vast American nation ? These may perhaps be issues that are important to be taken into consideration in a Presidential election campaign.
The world societies have so far been planned and organised by men, and they have created monsters more than angels. It is time to give the women the responsibility to put right the mistakes made by men. A Woman President in the United States of America would be a great change both for America and the world at large, and perhaps a woman could give the much needed peace, and to extend non-competitive generosity to developing nations, to scramble out of their poverty, and backwardness.
The American Political system has so far been aggressive, egoist and conceited. They have to get away from this mental frame, and develop a leadership of politeness, cooperation,
tolerance, and understanding. For that America needs a leadership that could think differently, act differently , and speak differently. For that reason Hillary Rodham Clinton may be the ideal President for USA for the twenty first Century.
The American Democrats should not be carried away by the importance of the candidate to be nominated by them as one as the probable first woman, or the other the first black to be the President of America. Because that would be a short sighted decision, what is important is to select a candidate who could defeat the Republican candidate to become the next Democratic President.
The American people are on the whole conservative and they are still not prepared to vote for a coloured person to be the President of USA. Though a woman may have much less a chance to become a President in a male chauvinist American society, Ms.Hillary Clinton is representative of the white America, therefore, given a choice between a black man, and a white woman as a Presidential candidate the majority of the white Americans may vote Hillary Clinton.
Therefore, if the USA is not going to be burdened again with a Republican President the Democrats should choose Hillary Clinton as their candidate.
By Charles Perera
The American Presidential Election campaign is on . After Iowa the Attention is focussed on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the nomination of the Democratic Presidential Candidate. After Nevada Hillary Clinton is the fore runner with Obama not doing so badly as the second on the run. Though South Carolina is not a decisive vote , but its large black voting population will be a challenge to Obama. Even if Obama were to get a significant lead in South Carolina that would not assure his nomination, the battle is still not over.
In South Carolina Hillary Clinton has found a dynamic campaigner in Bill Clinton. But , the fault with his speeches to please the gallery, are that they make him out to be the candidate. It should be only the candidate who should attack the opponent, therefore, it leaves a bad taste when some one else campaigning for her does the personal attacks. It is best that Bill Clinton plays down his role a bit to remain in the back ground, to assure the voters that it is a candidate opposed to George Bush that is seeking nomination.
Hillary Clinton should be more flexible, and take on more confidence. Her speeches should come more from her heart than from her head. That is how she made herself more voter friendly, and sincere to win votes in Nevada. She is a pleasant candidate, and she seems to be doing well. The media will not be kind to a woman presidential candidate, being more chauvinist- favouring a masculine leadership. The way to out do it, is to appeal more to the women voters. The women voters are prone to stay away from voting , thus remaining as the floating vote in an election. If they could be motivated to caste their vote for feminine leadership in politics, the day would be won for Hillary Clinton.
Hillary Clinton should speak more on black people emphasising the necessity to be open to them to give them more of the chance so far denied to them. She should speak of the, ghettoes, the poor , the underprivileged, and dropouts. The presidential campaign should be to bring together all Americans. The American Indians are left in the cold, how is the future America going to improve their conditions of living, and give them a share in the building of a future American Nation. These are matters that seem to have been left out.
America has also taken over the responsibility for a large numbers of South East Asian Immigrants. Is America going to pursue a segregationist national system or bring all together into a vast American nation ? These may perhaps be issues that are important to be taken into consideration in a Presidential election campaign.
The world societies have so far been planned and organised by men, and they have created monsters more than angels. It is time to give the women the responsibility to put right the mistakes made by men. A Woman President in the United States of America would be a great change both for America and the world at large, and perhaps a woman could give the much needed peace, and to extend non-competitive generosity to developing nations, to scramble out of their poverty, and backwardness.
The American Political system has so far been aggressive, egoist and conceited. They have to get away from this mental frame, and develop a leadership of politeness, cooperation,
tolerance, and understanding. For that America needs a leadership that could think differently, act differently , and speak differently. For that reason Hillary Rodham Clinton may be the ideal President for USA for the twenty first Century.
The American Democrats should not be carried away by the importance of the candidate to be nominated by them as one as the probable first woman, or the other the first black to be the President of America. Because that would be a short sighted decision, what is important is to select a candidate who could defeat the Republican candidate to become the next Democratic President.
The American people are on the whole conservative and they are still not prepared to vote for a coloured person to be the President of USA. Though a woman may have much less a chance to become a President in a male chauvinist American society, Ms.Hillary Clinton is representative of the white America, therefore, given a choice between a black man, and a white woman as a Presidential candidate the majority of the white Americans may vote Hillary Clinton.
Therefore, if the USA is not going to be burdened again with a Republican President the Democrats should choose Hillary Clinton as their candidate.
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